The study of biogeochemistry of organic matter in the Arctic Ocean
5 July 2005 - 31 July 200555 surface water samples were collected from an in-line pumping system for determination of concentrations of total organic carbon (TOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), nutrients, and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). Samples for determination of DIC C-13 values were also collected. Samples represent water masses encountered throughout the transect and include ice melt, Mackenzie river plume water, open ice regions, regions without ice cover and the open North Atlantic.
Water samples for detailed characterization of organic material were collected from 11 stations, including ice melt, Mackenzie river plume water, open ice regions, regions without ice cover and the open North Atlantic. Determinations will include: size fractionation (>0.2 μm, 3 kD to 0.2 μm, and of whole samples and size-fractionated samples, concentrations of particulate organic carbon (POC), POC C-13, dissolved neutral aldoses, total neutral aldoses, dissolved amino acids, total amino acids, DOC, and DON, and DOC-C13 values. Large volume air samples were collected throughout the transect from July 6 to July 28, 2005. Each sample was collected for approximately 24 hours. Pre-combusted glass fiber filters will be extracted for concentration determinations of various particulate fluorinated compounds and we will also attempt to determine the particulate organic carbon concentration of these particles. Air traps and filters have been extracted to date and are being analysed by GC-MS in Toronto Ontario, Canada by our collaborator Dr. Tom Harner at Environment Canada.
In addition, 20 surface water samples were extracted onto C-18 disks in order to concentrate dissolved organic material and determine its structural characteristics. Samples included open Atlantic surface waters, Arctic surface waters, ice melt and Mackenzie river plume samples. The samples are being analysed using electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclon resonance mass spectrometry by Dr. Elizabeth Kujawinski at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and the results are pending.